San Francisco Giants snap four game losing streak at home, Madison Bumgarner pitches a complete game, fanning 12

Aug 11, 2015; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants first baseman Brandon Belt (9) high fives teammates after the win against the Houston Astros at AT&T Park. The San Francisco Giants defeated the Houston Astros 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Hope. For a San Francisco Giants fan, it’s what keeps us going.  It’s what makes us buy tickets and head out to the yard wearing our Giants gear, cheering for the guys until we’re hoarse. It compels us to turn on the TV, the radio, whatever device we use to watch (or hear) the game to see who will be next to hit a splash ball in McCovey Cove or to watch the infield go around the horn.

Hope. Because we’re Giants fans and like I’ve said before, hope is our middle name.

It’s also what drives us to watch games like Tuesday night’s and come away with the attitude: “of course we won. We’re the Giants. What did you expect?”

Honestly? I expected nothing less. And the Giants did not disappoint.

The Giants won Tuesday night’s game because of two things. One‒our ace, Madison Bumgarner, who in the words of Bruce Bochy, pitched “a beautiful game.” It was that, and more. He pitched a complete game, allowing just one run on five hits and no walks. More impressive than that‒he struck out twelve.

The other reason the Giants won Tuesday night’s game is because the Baby Giraffe, Brandon Belt, went yard. Twice.

Belt led off in the fourth inning and on a full count, drove the ball over the center field wall. In the sixth, again with a two-strike count, Belt launched a rocket over the left field wall. In the same inning, Justin Maxwell hit a single and scored on Ehire Adrianza’s base hit.

The Astro’s were able to score a run off Bumgarner in the seventh, but that’s as far as they went. The final score was: Giants 3, Astros 1

Here’s some interesting facts: prior to Tuesday’s game, Belt had only two home runs at AT&T Park‒he doubled his record. Belt passed Buster Posey on the home run leader list‒Buster has 16 and Belt now has 17, 13 of which were hit in other parks. Brandon Crawford leads the team with 19 home runs hit.

Bumgarner’s outing is one for the record books, too. Along with pitching a complete game‒his second this season‒and fanning twelve batters, he struck out seven consecutive. He tied the San Francisco franchise record held by Juan Marichal and Jonathan Sanchez.

Tuesday night’s win snapped the Giants losing streak, capping the skid at four games. Enough. Now we just have to get everyone healthy. Center fielder Angel Pagan has been placed on the DL.  Giants insider Alex Pavlovic reports that he talked to Bochy who said Nori Aoki will be ready to play Wednesday. Now we just need Mike Leake, Andrew Susac and Joe Panik.

Let’s hope they get better soon.